Errors with playback devices in Skype are unfortunately a fairly common occurrence, and can keep you from making or receiving calls. They can also be difficult to track down. There are several different things that may be causing the problem, but most fixes should only take a moment to try.

Steps

Part 1

Basic Fixes

1

Click the Tools menu and select "Options". This will open Skype's Options menu, where you'll be checking what playback device is selected.

2

Click the "Audio Settings" option in the left menu. You'll see options for your microphone and speakers on the right.

3

Check the playback device selected in the "Speakers" drop-down menu. This should be the port that your speakers or headphones are plugged into. It should typically be the "Speakers" option.

4

Click the blue Play button to play a test ring. This can help you determine if you've selected the correct playback device.

5

Click the "Advanced options button" to see the device order. If your regular playback device is located lower on the list, move it to the top so that it is chosen as the default.[1]

6

Unplug and then reconnect your speakers or headphones. If you've selected the correct device and it's still not working, try unplugging your speakers or headset and then plugging it back in. Oftentimes, this will cause Skype to re-detect the device. Make sure that the "Automatically adjust speaker settings" box is checked before plugging it back in.

7

Reboot your computer. Oftentimes, a simple reboot will solve the problem that you're having. If rebooting doesn't work, try the more advanced fixes in the next section.

Part 2

Advanced Fixes

1

Open the Windows Sound panel and check your default device. Open the Start menu or screen and type "mmsys.cpl". This will launch the Sound panel. In the "Playback" tab, find your speakers or headset and then click the "Set Default" button. Try Skype again to see if it is working now. If it isn't, read on.

2

Open the Device Manager. Press ⊞ Win+R and type "devmgmt.msc". This will launch the Device Manager, which lists all of your installed hardware.

3

Expand "Sound, video and game controllers". This will display all of the sound adapters installed on your device. You may have multiple sound devices listed here.

4

Right-click on your sound device and select "Update Driver Software". Select "Search automatically for updated driver software" to have Windows find the latest version online. The "driver" is the software that controls your hardware. Updating the driver can help fix issues with it not working in Skype.[2]

If Windows finds an updated version, follow the prompts to install it and then test your speakers in Skype again.

5

Try disabling and re-enabling your sound hardware. If updating the drivers doesn't fix your problem, turning the card off and then back on may fix it.

Right-click on the hardware in Device Manager and select "Disable". Confirm that you want to turn it off.

Once it's disabled, right-click it again and select "Enable". This will turn it back on. Try Skype again to see if it's working.

6

Try the audio troubleshooter. Windows includes a troubleshooting utility for your audio hardware. This utility will scan for errors and attempt to fix them.

Open the Start menu or screen and type "troubleshooting". Select "Troubleshooting" from the list of results.

Click the "Troubleshoot audio playback" link. You'll be prompted for the administrator password if you aren't logged in with an administrator account.

Follow the prompts to run the troubleshooter. It will scan your audio software and hardware, and attempt to fix any problems that it finds.

7

Try uninstalling and then reinstalling Skype. If all else fails, reinstalling Skype may solve your problem. This will ensure that you have the latest version of Skype installed and that there are not any corrupt configuration files.

Open Skype and click the Contacts menu. Select "Advanced" → "Backup Contacts to File". This will create a backup of your contacts list so that you don't lose it when you uninstall.

Open the Control Panel and select "Uninstall a program", or "Programs and Features". Find Skype in the list and click "Uninstall".

Visit skype.com and download the installer for the latest version of Skype.